i have an '83 ford f150 and lately i have been having many problems with it. first the starter got hung and tried to crank itself so i replaced the starter and the solenoid THEN it wouldnt crank at all so i replaced the battery. Once i replaced the battery it would start, i left it over night and the next morning it wouldnt start or even try to turn over.. so i charged the battery then cranked it up then took the hot post off the battery while it was running and it cut off so i replaced the alternator. Now i charged the battery and left it over night and it still wont run. I dont know what else to do, can someone please help me????

 

pull the hot post over night and reconnect it in the morning and see if it starts...which it should. and if it does than you are drawing power somewhere when the truck is turned off. you'll have to check all of your wiring and see where its grounding out

 

I ran into the same problem having something else pull power I eventually said F&ck it and just put a disconnect switch on it since then I've fixed the problem and the disconnect is there for show

 

Thats a pretty smart idea. . . for security and for the battery life.

Also, I have an 83 4x4 long bed extended cab, 351w with a 4spd 4bl. I ran into a problem with my wiring. I had an aftermarket trailer light hook up that went to hell. I would suggest you start looking at your aftermarket wiring first.

 

I went through this with a friends F150, first we replaced the starter solenoid, then the starter, then the starter solenoid again and the positive battery cable as his had intermittent starts,starter would not disengage, finally I pulled off the starter and had it tested, The lady at Advance did not like how it sounded so I paid for a upgraded starter and installed that, no issues afterward, my suggestion if you can is to:
1. Check the battery charge if the truck does not start and see if it drained
2. As aforementioned check any modified or added wiring ( and battery cables for connection/ corrosion)
3. recheck the alternator, i had replaced one and after some issues (on another F-150) took it back to have it tested and it fried the testing machine.
4. last but not least check the starter, you never know..
5. recheck your radio wiring if you installed a radio, I shorted out a live wire not realizing it was live...

Hope this is a help.